Name: Ali Title: al-Hadi or and – Naqi Agnomen: Abn’l-Hasan Father’s name: Muhammad al-Jawed( at-Taqi) Mother’s name:sumanah Birth: In Suryah ( in the environs of Medina) ‘ on Friday’ 2nd Rajab’ 212 AH
Death: Died at the age of 42 ‘ in Samarra’ , on Monday, 26th Jumada th-thaniyah 254 AH; poisoned by al-Mu’tazz, the ‘ Abbasid caliph; buried in Samarra’ ; North of Baghdad ( Iraq)
The Tenth Holy Imam, like his father, was also elevated to the rank of Imam in his childhood. He was six years old when his father Imam Muhammad al-Jawad died. After the death of al-Ma’mun’ al-Mu`tasim succeeded him, and was later followed by the caliph al-Wathiq. In the first five years of the reign of al-Wathiq, Imam ` Ali al-Hadi (an – Naqi) lived peacefully.
After al-Wathiq, al-Mutawakkil came to power. Being too occupied in state affairs’ al-Mutawakkil did not get any time to harass the Imam and his followers for four years. But as soon as he freed himself from state affairs’ he started to molest the Imam. The Holy Imam devoted himself to the sacred mission of preaching in Medina and did thus earn the faith of the people as well as their allegiance and recognition of his great knowledge and attributes. This reputation of the Imam evoked the jealousy and malice of al-Mutawakkil against him.
The governor of Medina wrote to al-Mutawakkil that Imam `Ali al-Hadi had been maneuvering a coup against the government and a multitude of shi’ites were pledged to his support. although enraged by this news al-Mutawkkil still preferred the diplomacy of not arresting the Holy Imam” Under the garb of pretended respect and love towards the Imam, he planned to put him under life imprisonment after inviting him to his palace. prior to his imprisonment, in a series of correspondence with the Imam , he expressed the view that he was convinced of all the claims of the Imam and was ready to settle them amicably. He wrote to the Imam that having been acquainted with his great personality, his matchless knowledge and his peerless attributes, he was impatiently looking forward to the honour of seeing him, and he most cordially invited him to Samarra’.
Although the Imam was well aware of al-Mutawakkil’s treacherous intentions, he anticipating the fatal consequences of refusing the offer, reluctantly decided to leave Medina. But when the Imam arrived at Samarra” and al-Mutawakkil was informed about it, he took no notice of the Imam’s arrival. when asked about where the Imam should stay, he ordered that the Imam should be put up in the inn meant for beggars, destitutes and homeless people. al-Mutawakkil who was a deadly enemy of the Ahlu’l-Bayt, removed the Imam from this inn and entrusted him to the custody of a stone-hearted brute named zurafah. But , by the grace of Allah, his enmity was, in a short time, transformaed into love and devotion for the Imam. when al-Mutawakkil learnt about it, he shifted the Imam into the custody of another cruel man called Sa`id. The Imam remained under his strict vigilance for a number of years, during which he was subjected to boundless tortures. But even in this miserable imprisonment, the Imam kept devoting himself at all times to the worship of Allah, The watchman of the prison used to comment that Imam` Ali al-Hadi seemed to be an angel in human grab.
When Fath ibn Khaqan become the vizier of al-Mutawakkil, he being a shi`ah could not stand the idea of the Imam’s captivity. He endeavourd to have him released from imprisonment and arranged for his comfortable residence in a personally purchased house at Samarra’. Still al-Mutawakkil could hardly refrain from his antagonism to the Imam and he appointed spies to watch the Imam and his connections. but , through all these attempts, his hope of creating some fabrication to prove the Imam’s activity against himself could not be realized. In the time of al-Mutawakkil there was a woman named Zaynab who claimed to be a descendant of Imam Husayn al-Mutawakkil sought the confirmation of Zaynab’s claim from the Imam and said: ” That as the beasts are prohibited to eat the flash of the descendants of Imam Husayn he would throw Zaynab to the beasts and test her claim.” On hearing this , Zaynab began to tremble and confessed that she was a fake. al-Mutawakkil then ordered the Imam to be thrown to the beasts to test the claim.
To his great surprise, he witnessed the beasts prostrating their heads before the Imam. once al-Mutawakkil happened to suffer from a serious malady which was eventually declared incurable by his physician, When the Imam was approached for some a spontaneous cure. Once al-Mutawakkil was informed that the Imam was preparing a revolt against him. Thereupon, he ordered a detachment of the army to launch a raid on the Imam’s residence . When the soldiers entered his house, they found him sitting on a mat, reciting the Holy Qur’an. Not only al-Mutawakkil, but his successors’ opposition to the Imam was fierce. After the death of al-Mutawakkil, al-Mustansir, al-musta`in and al-Mu`tazz carried on the some mission of harassment against the family of the Imam. al-Mu`tazz, understanding the uncontrollable and intense devotion of the people towards the Imam, eventually contrived the Imam’s assassination. He got him poisoned through an ambassador which resulted in the Imam’s death within a few hours . The martyrdom occurred on 26th Jumada’ th -thaniyah 254 AH, and his funeral prayer was conducted by his son, Imam Hasan al-` Askari. The Imam was only forty – two years old at the time of death . the period of his Imamate was thirty- five years. He was buried in Samarra`, Iraq.
al-Imam al-Hadi, peace be Upon him, said to al-Mutawakkil,the `Abbasid caliph:
Do not expect honesty and purity of intention from someone who has suffered from your malice; do not expect loyalty from one to whom you have been disloyal do not expect goodwill from someone whom you regard with ill-will : his heart towards you is the some as your heart towards him.
Characteristics of the Shi’as of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S)
Imam Ali (A.S.): Our Shi’as are generous to one another within the intimacy towards us. They love each other in the light of attachment to us, and rush to visit each other in order to perpetuate our memory; they are the ones who, when outraged, would not inflict oppression and when pleased, would not practice extravagance. They are sources of blessing for their neighbors and will follow conciliation once they mingle with others.
Nawf ibn Abd Allah al-Bikali: Imam Ali (A.S.) said to me: O Nawf! We have been created of a pure nature and our Shi’as created from our nature; so they will join us on the Resurrection Day.
I said: O Amir al-Mu’minin! Describe your Shi’as to me. As I uttered the name of his Shi’a, he wept and said: O Nawf! I swear by Allah that my Shi’as are patient, aware of Allah and his Faith, they are engaged in obedience and worship of Allah, and find their ways in the light of His love; they are over tasked by worship and prayers and are adherents of austerity; they have mournful and lean faces due to the observance of nocturnal devotions; their eyes are shrinked out of weeping, their lips tend to dry up because of dhikr (remembrance), and their stomachs are thin-skinned due to hunger, Divine color is evident on their faces, and piety is apparent in their countenance. They are lights to any darkness and like flowers they cover up every ugliness; they neither adore the Muslims of the past nor do they pursue the ones coming later on.
The evil is suppressed in them, their hearts are gloomy, they are chaste, their wants are scanty, their souls are habituated with difficulties and people are at ease with them. They are intelligent and wise, honest and noble; and are very smart in setting their faith free. When they appear somewhere they will not be recognized; and in their absence they will not be questioned.
These are the purest of My Shi’as and the noblest of my brothers.
Oh! How eager am I to see them!
Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.): Try my Shi’as on three occasions: At the exact time of prayers (they pray on time), concerning secrets as how they keep them hidden from our enemies, and regarding their wealth as how they share it with their brothers.
Imam al-Sadiq(A.S.): The true Ja’fari Shi’a is one who abstains from gluttony and lust, who is hard-working and works for his Creator, being hopeful of His rewards, and is fearful of His Punishment. Whenever you see such people, they are indeed Ja’fari Shi’as.
Imam al-Sadiq(A.S.): Our Shi’a is the one who takes hold of what he deems good, and gives up what he views evil, reveals beauty and rushes into good deed hopeful of Divine mercy. Such a person is with us, is in line with us wherever we are.
Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.): Our Shi’as are chaste, hardworking, loyal, trustworthy, and austere. They daily perform fifty one rakahs of prayers; they observe prayers at night and fast during daytime; they pay up the Zakah of their property, perform the pilgrimage of Hajj and withdraw from any unlawful action.
Imam al-Sadiq(A.S.): Our shi’as are recognized by various characteristics: Munificence, sacrificing for their brothers, and daily performing fifty rakah of prayers.
Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.): Our followers include three groups: Those who are our friends and express their love to us such people are of us; those who adorn themselves with us, and we make beautiful those who adorn themselves with us; and those who usurp people’s property in our name, and whoever usurps people’s property in our name will become poor.
Source : Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith
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